About the Society

Past Presidents

An unbroken line of scholars who have led the Society, since its founding.

Since: 1917
Held for: A year at a time

The presidency

A year at a time,
for over a century

The presidency is typically held for a single year. The President oversees the Society through their term, takes responsibility for both annual meetings, and by long custom often hosts the summer meeting at their own university — which is why the Society has gathered in so many different cities since 1917.

The office passes in an unbroken line from one scholar to the next. A President-Elect is chosen in advance and serves alongside the current President, so the Society always knows who will take the chair; the retiring President stays on the Committee a further year.

Meet the Committee The full roll

An open minute book with rows of handwritten signatures, a fountain pen resting across the page, in soft daylight — Each President signs the Society's minute book at the close of their term.

Presidents through the years

All 100 Presidents, most recent first, from 2025-2026 back to 1917-19. The Society holds photographs for 31; the rest are recorded by term of office.

Prof Stuart Weeks
2025-2026
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
2025-2026
Prof Stuart Weeks
Dr John Jarick
2024-2025
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
2024-2025
Dr John Jarick
Prof Katharine Dell (from Jan 2023 to Summer 2024)
2023-24
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
2023-24
Prof Katharine Dell (from Jan 2023 to Summer 2024)
Prof Charlotte Hempel
2022
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
2022
Prof Charlotte Hempel
Prof Hugh Pyper
2021
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
2021
Prof Hugh Pyper
Prof Walter Houston
2020
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
2020
Prof Walter Houston
Prof. Susan Gillingham
2019
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
2019
Prof. Susan Gillingham
Prof. Walter Moberly
2018
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
2018
Prof. Walter Moberly
Prof. Paul Joyce
2017
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
2017
Prof. Paul Joyce
Dr Adrian Curtis
2016
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
2016
Dr Adrian Curtis
Professor Hans M. Barstad
2015
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
2015
Professor Hans M. Barstad
Professor John Day
2014
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
2014
Professor John Day
Dr Eryl W. Davies
2013
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
2013
Dr Eryl W. Davies
Professor George J. Brooke
2012
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
2012
Professor George J. Brooke
Professor John F.A. Sawyer
2011
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
2011
Professor John F.A. Sawyer
Professor J. Cheryl Exum
2010
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
2010
Professor J. Cheryl Exum
Professor Lester L. Grabbe
2009
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
2009
Professor Lester L. Grabbe
Revd Professor John Barton
2008
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
2008
Revd Professor John Barton
Professor Philip R. Davies
2007
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
2007
Professor Philip R. Davies
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
2006
Professor C.T. Robert Hayward
Professor A. Graeme Auld
2005
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
2005
Professor A. Graeme Auld
Professor Hugh G.M. Williamson
2004
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
2004
Professor Hugh G.M. Williamson
Professor Robert P. Gordon
2003
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
2003
Professor Robert P. Gordon
Revd Professor John R. Bartlett
2002
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
2002
Revd Professor John R. Bartlett
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
2001
Professor M.D. Goulder
Professor Joseph Blenkinsopp
2000
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
2000
Professor Joseph Blenkinsopp
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1999
Professor Robert P. Carroll
Mrs Margaret Barker
1998
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1998
Mrs Margaret Barker
Dr Rex A. Mason
1997
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1997
Dr Rex A. Mason
Professor David J.A. Clines
1996
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1996
Professor David J.A. Clines
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1995
Professor Gwilym H. Jones
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1994
Professor J.C.L. Gibson
Revd R.J. Coggins
1993
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1993
Revd R.J. Coggins
Dr Andrew D.H. Mayes
1992
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1992
Dr Andrew D.H. Mayes
Revd Dr Anthony Gelston
1991
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1991
Revd Dr Anthony Gelston
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1990
Revd Professor William Johnstone
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1989
Professor the Revd Canon John W. Rogerson
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1988
Revd Professor Ernest Nicholson
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1987
Revd Dr Robert Murray, SJ
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1986
Revd Professor Barnabas Lindars, SSF
Revd Professor Ronald E. Clements
1985
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1985
Revd Professor Ronald E. Clements
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1984
Professor W.G. Lambert
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1983
Revd Canon Professor J.R. Porter
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1982
Revd Professor R. Norman Whybray
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1981
Mr Raphael Loewe
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1980
Professor D.J. Wiseman
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1979
Revd Professor John A. Emerton
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1978
Revd Professor William McKane
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1977
Professor R.J. Williams
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1976
Revd Canon Professor Douglas Rawlinson Jones
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1975
Baroness Eileen F. de Ward
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1974
Mr D.R. Ap-Thomas
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1973
Revd Professor James Barr
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1972
Revd Professor Peter R. Ackroyd
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1971
Professor Edward Ullendorff
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1970
Revd Professor Arthur Sumner Herbert
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1969
Revd J.N. Schofield
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1968
Very Revd Matthew Black
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1967
Most Revd Archbishop Donald Coggan
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1966
Revd Principal Gwynne Henton Davies
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1965
Professor F.F. Bruce
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1964
Revd Professor Bleddyn Jones Roberts
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1963
Revd Professor George W. Anderson
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1962
Revd Professor H.F.D. Sparks
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1961
Professor J. Weingreen
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1960
Very Revd Cuthbert Aikman Simpson
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1959
Revd Professor John Mauchline
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1957
Revd Principal Norman H. Snaith
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1956
Revd Professor Aubrey Rodway Johnson
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1955
Revd Professor Alfred Guillaume
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1954
Revd Professor Norman W. Porteous
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1953
Professor D. Winton Thomas
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1952
Very Revd Mgr Consultor John M.T. Barton
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1951
Professor Samuel H. Hooke
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1950
Revd Professor H.H. Rowley
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1949
Revd Professor Christopher R. North
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1948
Professor Edward Robertson
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1947
Revd Father C. Lattey, S.J
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1946
Revd Professor Theodore H. Robinson
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1941-45
Revd Principal H. Wheeler Robinson (Acting)
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1939-40
Mr Herbert Loewe
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1937-38
Mr G.R. Driver
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1936
Revd Canon John Battersby Harford
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1935
Revd Professor W. Emery Barnes
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1934
Revd Professor Adam Cleghorn Welch
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1933
Revd Principal W.L. Wardle
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1932
Revd Principal W.F. Lofthouse
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1931
Revd Professor W.O.E. Oesterley
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1930
Dr C.G. Montefiore
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1929
Revd Principal H. Wheeler Robinson
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1928
Revd Professor Theodore H. Robinson
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1927
Revd Canon D.C. Simpson
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1926
Revd Professor William Barron Stevenson
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1925
Dr Stanley A. Cook
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1924
Professor Arthur S. Peake
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1923
Revd Canon Professor G.H. Box
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1922
Dr George Buchanan Gray
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1921
Revd Canon R.H. Kennett
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1920
Revd Professor A.R.S. Kennedy
SOTS
Society for Old
Testament Study
President
1917-19
Revd Principal W.H. Bennett